The Madras high court has held that the future and safety of the children are more important than the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) earning revenue out of selling liquor and directed TASMAC to close the shop in the Golden Enclave on Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk.

Justice K. Chandru also observed that by quixotic interpretation to the Prohibition Act and even in the face of Article 47 of the Constitution, wherein the state had undertaken to bring about prohibition of the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs that were injurious to health except for medical purposes, the state was running liquor shops.

By the closure of one shop, no one will shed tears and it will not bring about loss to the state especially as the turnover from the liquor sales in this state had already crossed `16,500 crore per annum, the judge said.

The interest of minor children studying in five schools in the vicinity, the day-to-day hazards of going to the bus shelter and schoolchildren frequenting the shopping complex inside the Golden Enclave, coupled with the report submitted by the commissioner appointed by the court, obliges this court to direct TASMAC to immediately close the shop in the Golden Enclave, said the judge.

Justice Chandru said a compliance report for implementing the order should be filed before this court by February 20 and allowed the petition from Golden Enclave Owners Association.

According to petitioner, Tasmac was running a liquor shop with an attached bar in the basement of the Golden Enclave, which was a commercial complex, where as many as 40 offices were located and more than 200 women employees were working.